The company is taking on “chicken eggs,” he said, with products it makes from non-GMO plants. The company’s aim is to offer products that taste as good or better than their egg-based counterparts, that are cheaper to use, better for diners’ health, and far better for the environment than intensive animal agriculture practices that produce the majority of the 1.8 trillion eggs laid globally each year.

The company’s first product was an egg alternative called Beyond Eggs (for Food Manufacturers) that Hampton Creek sold in bulk, 50-pound packs to major food manufacturers.

But more recently, Hampton Creek has struck a distribution deal with Whole Foods Market Inc. for its first mainstream consumer product Just Mayo. The startup also works with a number of other large groceries, fast food chains, convenience stores and major food manufacturers, who are selling or using Just Mayo, Mr. Tetrick said.

Hampton Creek plans to use its funding to grow its manufacturing operations, fulfill orders, strike new distribution deals, and to expand significantly beyond the U.S., especially in China. That’s one reason the company sought funding from Li Ka-shing’s Horizons Ventures, Mr. Tetrick said.

The CEO said he also expects one-third to one-half of the new funding to go towards research and development of new products that would replace eggs in a variety of food items.

According to Collaborative Fund Venture Partner Kanyi Maqubela, the firm sees Hampton Creek as the “biggest possible consumer play there is, given that food is this pervasive, universal need.”

He expects the company to focus on distribution, keeping its supply chain efficient and competitive in 2014, and building international brand awareness.

Mr. Tetrick noted that the global market for mayo alone every year, according to Euromonitor International Ltd. reports, tops $11 billion. He added that there are 79 billion eggs laid in the U.S. alone each year, and one-third of them wind up “living inside” of products like cookies, muffins and other doughy delights, where consumers aren’t aware of them.

“We want to make eggs obsolete,” the CEO said. “Most people would be appalled if they saw where the eggs in their favorite foods are coming from…and the treatment of chickens in this intensive, animal agriculture system.”

Venture investments in food rose in 2013. General food products attracted at least $47.3 million in institutional funding last year, according to Dow Jones VentureSource data, about a 22% increase over the $38.7 million invested in the category in 2012.

Shaun: When you make a statement like the one you made it would have been a good idea to post some source for your alleged information, or give us some reason to believe your hostilely written ("troll"') post. Otherwise many of us will think you are nothing more than a would-be character assassin.

9:59 pm June 10, 2014

Rachel S. wrote:

I love this company! They are trying to make the food system better in a thoughtful, creative way without sacrificing my experience as a consumer. I saw Hampton Creek for the first time on Katie Couric and I think they are going to get really big really soon. I try to be good and by healthy and sustainable food - but its hard to do that and get delicious food. I'm down for any company that will make finding great food that is better for the environment and easier for me price wise.

8:37 pm June 10, 2014

Rachel Gibson wrote:

I love Just Mayo! Did you know that the flavors are coming to Whole Foods soon? They are non GMO certified, I've seen it on the Non GMO Project website. Such an amazing company with a really great mission

8:33 am April 3, 2014

Bea Elliott wrote:

To shaun - Just hurry yourself to the first attorney you can get and start a claim against Hampton Creek if you think they aren't being truthful about their products being GMO free! OR... Since they ARE - Maybe someone should start a suit against you for liable?

To the rest who are so set against egg-less mayo and egg-less cookie dough --- These are fabulous idea whose time is long over due! The idea of enslaving billions of birds to tiny cages, feeding them vast amounts of corn/soy and then slitting their throats at a fraction of their life expectancy is primitive! If we were to start a sustainable model for food production today it certainly wouldn't be at the mercy (or lack there of) to animals. It would be in plant protein. THAT is the trend of the future. Healthy, affordable, sustainable and certainly kinder!

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